Heat-exchanger device and method for conditioning a working medium

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a heat-exchanger device ( 99 ), in which a working medium ( 13 ) is conditioned by means of a heat-transfer medium ( 21 ). The conditioning process, which creates a desired working point, is achieved by an exchange of heat between the working medium ( 13 ) and the heat-transfer medium ( 21 ). Heat-transfer surfaces are configured in the heat-exchanger device ( 99 ), said surfaces enabling the exchange of heat in such a way that the two media ( 13, 21 ) remain separate from one another. According to the invention, said device is equipped with a chamber ( 10 ), into which the working medium ( 13 ) flows. The chamber ( 10 ) is penetrated or delimited by at least one conduit ( 20 ), which is traversed by the heat-transfer medium ( 21 ).

The present invention relates to a heat exchange device and to a methodfor conditioning a working medium, in particular having a heat exchangedevice of this type.

A wide variety of heat exchange devices in which a working medium, witha view to producing a desired working point, exchanges heat with a heatexchange medium via heat exchange surfaces, are known. Heat exchangedevices of this type include, for example, vehicle radiators, in whichthe working medium is the engine coolant and the heat exchange medium isthe ambient air flowing through the radiator. However, heat exchangedevices are also required for other working media in an engine, such asan internal combustion engine. For example, it is known for combustionexhaust gases from an internal combustion engine to be recirculated intothe combustion chamber, before which they are cooled by means of a heatexchanger. It is also known to cool compressed air for operation of abrake or an engine brake of a vehicle.

Known heat exchangers are separate components which are accommodated inseparate housings and can only be partially integrated in the overallcooling system of an engine.

One drawback of heat exchangers of this type, in which the workingmedium is forced to flow through a region through which a heat exchangemedium also flows is the need for a correspondingly adapted housingwhich is able to withstand very high pressures. Another drawback is thatit is necessary to produce a forced flow of the working medium.Therefore, it is an object of the invention to configure a heat exchangedevice in such a way that the working medium can be conditioned in thesimplest possible way.

According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a heatexchange device according to the invention. Methods for conditioning aworking medium in accordance with the invention are also suitable forachieving the object of the invention in an advantageous way.

In a heat exchange device, a working medium is conditioned by means of aheat exchange medium. The conditioning, with a view to producing adesired working point, is realized by heat exchange between the workingmedium and the heat exchange medium. For this purpose, heat exchangesurfaces are formed in the heat exchange device, via which the heatexchange can take place, in such a manner that the two media areseparate from one another. According to the invention, a chamber isformed, with the working medium flowing into the chamber. At least oneline through which the heat exchange medium flows passes through thechamber.

On account of the fact that in this configuration the working mediumdoes not have to actively flow past the heat exchange surfaces, the heatexchange can take place through free convection with only partial forcedflow or even with no forced flow whatsoever. In this case, theconditioning of the working medium may consist in particular in coolingof the working medium.

According to a preferred configuration of the invention, at least oneline passes through the chamber in the direction of its greatestlongitudinal extent. Orienting the line in the direction of the greatestlongitudinal extent of the chamber offers the possibility of making thesurface area of the line in the chamber as large as possible, andthereby forming the largest possible heat exchange surface. Thisachieves favorable heat exchange in particular if this heat exchangetakes place predominantly or almost exclusively through free convection.

According to an advantageous configuration of the invention, it isprovided that at least one line has heat exchange fins, such as coolingfins. The heat exchange fins serve to increase the surface area of theline and therefore to increase the size of the heat exchange surfacesand therefore to ramp up the heat exchange between the two mediaoverall. According to a preferred refinement, the heat exchange fins arearranged on the outer side of the line and project into the chamber fromthe line. This in particular increases the surface area of the heatexchange surfaces, formed by the heat exchange fins, which comes intocontact with the working medium. The use of a suitable material of goodthermal conductivity, such as for example a metal, increases the heatconduction in the material. The increase in the surface area works evenif the heat exchange medium does not flow through the inside of the heatexchange fins. In this case, depending on the conditions and particularrequirements imposed on the inflow and outflow of the working mediuminto and out of the chamber, it is possible and indeed advantageous witha view to achieving good heat exchange for the direction in which theheat exchange fins run to be formed perpendicular to the direction inwhich the line runs within the chamber. In this case, in particular finsarranged parallel to the direction of the force of gravity areadvantageous.

In this case, according to a preferred refinement of the invention, theheat exchange fins are designed to correspond to the inflow directionand/or the outflow direction of the working medium into or out of thechamber.

According to a further advantageous configuration of the invention, atleast one line is formed in the region of at least one inflow opening ofthe chamber. Forming a line in the region of an inflow opening resultsin a forced flow around the line and therefore, in addition to purelyfree convective heat exchange, also a proportion of forced convectiveheat exchange. In this context, according to a further configuration, itis possible for a plurality of inflow openings into the chamber to beprovided, in which case a line runs in the region of each inflowopening. In this case, it is also possible for in each case one commonline to be assigned to a plurality of inflow openings. In particular, itis also possible to provide only a small number of lines, with each ofthe lines being positioned in the region of a plurality of inflowopenings. On the other hand, it is likewise conceivable for each inflowopening to be assigned a different line assigned to that inflow openingonly. In this case, the number of lines is at least equal to the numberof inflow openings.

Likewise, as an alternative or in addition, it is possible to providefor at least one line to be formed in the region of the at least oneoutflow opening. In this case too, the flow around the line when theworking medium is flowing out of the chamber leads to forced convectionwhich supplements the free convection. In this case, it is in particularpossible to provide a plurality of outflow openings, with a line runningin the region of each outflow opening. However, it is also quitepossible for a single line to be assigned to a plurality of outflowopenings. However, it is also possible to provide for each outflowopening to be assigned a different line. Inflow and outflow openings maybe identical, i.e. an opening can also be used cyclically as an inflowopening and then as an outflow opening.

In this context, it is possible in particular to provide configurationsaccording to which each line is assigned at least one and preferablyprecisely one inflow opening and at least one outflow opening,preferably at least precisely one outflow opening. In particular, it ispossible to provide that one line is assigned a plurality of inflowopenings but just one outflow opening.

Particularly good flow through a region provided with heat exchange finsis advantageously achieved if the working medium flows directly throughsuch a region on the flow path from the inflow opening or to the outflowopening. This leads to particularly good forced circulation of theworking medium flowing in or out and to an increased efficiency of theforced convection.

According to a preferred configuration of the invention, the chamberforms a reservoir for the working medium. This measure means that anyreservoir which may be required at the same time becomes a heat exchangedevice. There is no need for a separate housing for the heat exchangedevice. This is advantageous in particular because the designrequirements imposed on the housing of a heat exchange device are atleast substantially similar to those imposed on a reservoir. The demandfor leaktightness, ability to withstand high pressures and thermal loadssubstantially coincide with one another.

In a further configuration of the invention, the chamber may also form apressurized reservoir. The pressurized reservoir, in particular inconjunction with a gaseous working medium, has the advantage that thepressurized working medium allows better heat exchange with the heatexchange medium than a working medium at atmospheric pressure.

According to a further configuration of the invention, the chamber is anintegral part of an engine component or compressor component, inparticular of the exhaust gas recirculation in an engine, an exhaust gasrecirculation device or a brake device. The structural outlay entailedby the heat exchange device is greatly reduced by making the heatexchange device, whether with or without a reservoir function, part of afunctional component. According to an advantageous configuration, thechamber which is required for the heat exchange device can be formed inthe immediate vicinity of the engine block or may form part of theengine block. This allows particularly simple production of the chamber.

A method according to the invention for conditioning a working medium bymeans of a heat exchange medium provides for the working medium to flowinto a chamber and for the heat exchange medium to flow through thischamber, during which process it is guided within a line passing throughthe chamber. This procedure allows heat exchange which is independent offorced flow of the working medium through the heat exchanger. Accordingto an advantageous embodiment, the conditioning of the working medium inthe chamber is at least partially effected by free convection. This typeof heat exchange can be produced in a particularly simple andadvantageous way. According to an advantageous configuration of amethod, the working medium is passed through a region provided with heatexchange fins at least as it flows into or out of the chamber. Itspassage through this region provided with heat exchange fins leads toforced convection, which increases the efficiency of the heat exchangerbut does not require the separate generation of forced flow of theworking medium through the heat exchange device. Only the flow of theworking medium which is already present in any case is employed. Thisflow is produced in particular by means of pressure gradients and/or bymeans of circulation or discharge of the working media from the chamberwhich is required in any case, generally in the form of a medium flowprofile which is automatically established. According to a preferredconfiguration, the heat exchange fins are oriented in the inflow and/oroutflow direction of the working medium, so that the working medium canflow through between the fins in a particularly expedient way. This typeof orientation leads to a low flow resistance and at the same time to agood flow through the spaces between the heat exchange fins.

According to an advantageous configuration of a method according to theinvention, the heat exchange fins are oriented in the direction of theprofile of a convective flow in the chamber. An orientation of thisnature, in particular with relatively long residence times and aconfiguration of the chamber which promotes a convective flow within thechamber, leads to the formation of a convective flow in the chamberbeing promoted. A flow of this type, with a low flow resistance and goodflow around the heat exchange fins, then boosts the free convection. Aconvective flow occurs in particular if the proportion of the workingmedium which flows out is relatively small compared to the volume of thechamber, and the working medium also flows out at a low flow velocity.This type of configuration of the chamber and of the volume of thechamber allows particularly good conditioning of the working medium tobe achieved, since the associated high mean residence time of theworking medium in the chamber allows very good exchange of thermalenergy between working medium and heat exchange medium to be achieved.It is also possible for the inflow and outflow openings to be arrangedin such a way that the formation of a convective flow is promoted by thedirection of flow through them and their positioning at the chamber.

According to a further advantageous configuration of a method, theworking medium in the chamber is subject to pressure. The pressurizedstorage of the working medium in the chamber is advantageous inparticular if the working medium is in the gaseous state. Theapplication of pressure then increases the particle density andtherefore achieves improved heat exchange through free convection. It isadvantageously possible for the working medium to be used for operationof an engine (internal combustion engines), a brake device or apressurized reservoir of a vehicle.

In a preferred configuration, a method according to the invention iscarried out by means of a heat exchange device designed in accordancewith the invention.

The invention is diagrammatically depicted on the basis of exemplaryembodiments in the drawing and is described extensively below withreference to the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration through a firstembodiment of a heat exchange device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration through asecond embodiment of a heat exchange device according to the invention;

FIG. 3 diagrammatically depicts the structure of a third heat exchangedevice in longitudinal section;

FIG. 4 diagrammatically depicts the structure of a fourth embodiment ofa heat exchange device in longitudinal section;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of heat exchange fins in the regionof the line of a heat exchange device according to the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration through a fifthheat exchange device;

FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration through a sixthheat exchange device;

FIG. 8 diagrammatically depicts the longitudinal section through a heatexchange device; and

FIG. 9 diagrammatically depicts the longitudinal section through amodified embodiment of a heat exchange device.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show different embodiments of chambers and arrangements oflines formed therein, with heat exchange fins formed integrally on thelines. The different configurations differ in terms of different designsof the chamber 10, of the at least one inflow and outflow opening and ofthe positioning of the at least one line within the chamber.

FIG. 1 shows a heat exchange device 99, which has a chamber 10 which isrectangular in cross section. The chamber forms a reservoir for workingmedium, with the working medium in particular being pressurized.

In the embodiment illustrated, three lines 20 pass through the chamber10, with the heat exchange medium 21 flowing through the lines 20. Eachof the three lines 20 is surrounded by heat exchange fins 22 on theouter side. An inflow opening 11, through which working medium 13 flowsinto the chamber 10, lies in the plane of the drawing. The three lines20 are laid in such a way that the working medium 13 flowing in flowsdirectly past the lines 20 and/or flows through the region of the heatexchange fins. In the embodiment illustrated in the figure, therefore, aplurality of lines 20 are assigned to one inflow opening 11. In thelongitudinal direction of the heat exchange device 99, however, theselines may be assigned further inflow openings 11, and as an alternativeor in addition also one or more outflow openings 12, as will beexplained in more detail below in the longitudinal sections shown inFIGS. 3 and 4.

The heat exchange between the working medium 13 and the heat exchangemedium 21 takes place firstly by virtue of the fact that when it flowsin the working medium 13 comes into contact with the heat exchange fins22 and secondly by virtue of the fact that the working medium 13 thenremains within the chamber 10, and as a result is cooled in the form offree convection.

In the configuration of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the lines 20 arein the form of round tubes which are surrounded by heat exchange finswhich are likewise of circular external contour and preferably lie in aplane running radially around the line 20, as illustrated by way ofexample in FIG. 5 b.

FIG. 2 shows a variant of the configuration of an exhaust gas heatexchange device. The heat exchange devices 99 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2substantially correspond to one another, and consequently only thedifferences between the two configurations are illustrated in FIG. 2. Arectangular outer contour was used for the design of the heat exchangefins 22 in FIG. 2, so that the heat exchange fins form an interruptedregion of the chamber which is provided with heat exchange fins withoutany gaps. In addition, a separate reservoir 14, which has no heatexchange fins and forms the main storage volume of the chamber 10, isformed. Otherwise, the design of the heat exchange device 99 shown inFIG. 2 may be the same as that shown in FIG. 1. This design of the heatexchange fins firstly increases the heat exchange surface area andsecondly improves the guidance of the working medium which flows inthrough the finned region.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show cross sections through the structure of heat exchangedevices 99 according to the invention. FIGS. 3 and 4, which aredescribed below, show sections taken in the longitudinal direction ofthe chamber 10.

FIG. 3 shows a heat exchange device 99 with its chamber 10, which has aline 20 passing through it in the longitudinal direction. The line 20,on its outer side, has heat exchange fins projecting into the chamber10, with the heat exchange medium 21 flowing through the line in thedirection indicated by the arrows 23. In accordance with theillustration, the heat exchange fins 22 are oriented so as to protruderadially from the line 20. The working medium 13 flows through theinflow openings 11 into the working chamber 10. The inflow openings 11are arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction of theline 20, but they could also—contrary to what is illustrated in thedrawing—be arranged offset in the vertical direction with respect to oneanother, so that they are not necessarily assigned to the same line 20.The working medium 13 which flows in initially passes into the region ofthe lines 20 and of the heat exchange fins 22, and flows through thisregion in the direction indicated by the flow arrows 16. Furthermore,the chamber 10 also has a reservoir region 14, into which no heatexchange fins 22 project and which stores the majority of the volume ofthe working medium 13. In this region, the working medium is conditionedby free convection, in which heat exchange between the working mediumand the heat exchange medium continues to take place. All theillustrations of the conditioning of the working medium by heat exchangewith the heat exchange medium may involve cooling or heating of theworking medium. The type of conditioning is determined solely by thedirection in which there is a temperature difference. The basicstructure of the heat exchange device according to the invention istherefore not influenced irrespective of whether heating or cooling isbeing carried out.

FIG. 3 illustrates two arrangements of outflow openings 12 which can beused as alternatives or at the same time. One outflow opening 12 isarranged as an extension of the longitudinal arrangement of the inflowopenings 11, whereas the other leads axially from the reservoir region.In the case of the first outflow opening 12 mentioned, the workingmedium 13 which flows out flows through the region comprising the atleast one line 20 and the heat exchange fins 22 once again, whereas inthe case of the second outflow opening mentioned the working mediumflows through the outflow opening 12 directly from the reservoir region14 without flowing directly past the heat exchange fins 22 and the line20 again. At both outflow openings, it is possible to provide a valve 15which can control the outgoing flow, it being possible for the valves oftwo outflow openings to be designed such that they can be actuatedindependently of one another.

FIG. 4 likewise shows a longitudinal section through the chamber 10 of aheat exchange device or of a pressurized radiator. Inflow openings 11and outflow openings 12 are arranged alternately along a longitudinalside of the chamber 10. As seen in the inflow direction 16, anintermediate space 18 is formed first of all in the chamber 10.Separating webs 19, which separate regions of the intermediate space 18which are assigned to inflow and outflow openings from one another, arearranged in the intermediate space 18.

Working medium which flows into the chamber 10 first of all flowsthrough an inflow opening 11, as indicated by the flow arrows 16, andthen, flowing through the intermediate space 18, passes firstly into theregion which has the heat exchange fins 22. In the process, it alsoflows around the line 20. The working medium then passes into theoverflow region 14. In this configuration of the invention, it isparticularly expedient if the heat exchange fins 22 are oriented so asto protrude radially with respect to the longitudinal direction of theextent of the line 20, thereby producing a flow-guiding effect, while atthe same time ensuring prolonged contact with the heat exchange fins 22forming a heat exchange surface. Further conditioning of the workingmedium 13 takes place in the overflow region 14 through free convection.Conditioning of the working medium through free convection also takesplace in the intermediate space 18. The working medium flows to theoutflow openings 12 in the direction indicated by the flow arrows 17,once again flowing around or through the region of the line 20 and theheat exchange fins 22.

Furthermore, it is also possible to provide an exit opening 12 whichleads out directly from the overflow region 14. According to analternative configuration, it is also possible for feed openings 11 tobe arranged on the side only, in which case the intermediate space 18between two inflow openings is then separated by separating webs 19, andthe individual working medium flows which flow in only mix with oneanother in the overflow region 14. The outward flow then takes placethrough the single outflow opening 12 which leads away from the overflowregion 14 and has previously been referred to as the additional outflowopening leading out of the chamber 10 in the longitudinal direction.

FIG. 5 shows fins 22 which protrude radially from the tube 20 and, forexample, run around the tube in the form of circular disks. The use offins 22 oriented in this manner is particularly advantageous if theincoming or outgoing flow of the working medium is perpendicular to thedirection in which the tube 20 extends and the working medium 13, as itflows in or out, flows transversely to the flow through the tube 20. Theheat exchange fins are in particular formed parallel to the direction ofthe force of gravity. It is preferable for the height of the fins to bebetween 1 mm and approx. 40 mm and for the distance between the fins tobe between 0.1 and approx. 20 mm.

FIG. 6 illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of a heat exchangedevice 100 according to the present invention, which substantiallycorresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Working medium 113 flowsinto a chamber 110 through an inflow opening 111. Lines 120, throughwhich a heat exchange medium 121 can flow and which are surrounded byheat exchange fins 122, pass through the chamber 110. A further line 140for the heat exchange medium 121 is provided in a wall 130 of thechamber 110, to effect additional heat exchange between the heatexchange medium 121 and the working medium 113, with the result that thechamber 110 is delimited by the line 140. The line 140 is in this casedesigned in such a manner that it surrounds at least part of the chamber110. To increase the heat exchange surface area between the chamber 110and the line 140, the wall 130 has heat exchange fins 150, which in thepresent exemplary embodiment are oriented parallel to the lines 120passing through the chamber 110 and perpendicular to the heat exchangefins 122 of these lines.

FIG. 7 shows a heat exchange device 200 which differs from the heatexchange device 100 shown in FIG. 6 substantially by virtue of the factthat the heat exchange fins 222 of the lines 220 fill the cross sectionof the chamber 210 to an increased extent, which results in a furtherincrease in the heat exchange surface area between the working medium213 and the heat exchange medium 221, in a similar way to that achievedwith the heat exchange device 99 illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal section through a heat exchange device 300.The heat exchange device 300 substantially corresponds to the heatexchange device 100 shown in FIG. 6 and has inflow openings 311, achamber 310 and outflow openings 312 for a working medium 313, as wellas an inflow opening 324, lines 320, 340 and an outflow opening 325 fora heat exchange medium 321, the lines 320 and 340 being provided withheat exchange fins 322 and 350, respectively.

A flow of working medium 313 which enters the chamber 310 through theinlet openings 311 is guided from the heat exchange fins 322, in thedirection indicated by arrow 355, to the heat exchange fins 350, thenmoves in the direction indicated by arrow 360 and passes through theheat exchange fins 322 again, for example in the direction indicated bythe arrows 365, 366, before ultimately leaving the chamber 310 throughthe exit openings 312. As a result of being arranged in this way, thefins 322, 350 form means for guiding the flow of the working medium 313,thereby allowing increased and under certain circumstances controlledheat exchange between the working medium 313 and the heat exchangemedium 321 which flows in the direction indicated by the arrows 370.

Since in the case of the heat exchange device 300 none of the inflowopenings 311 are unambiguously assigned to one of the outflow openings312, working medium 313 can be fed to the chamber 310 through one ormore inflow openings 311 as desired and/or removed from the chamber 310through one or more outflow openings 312 as desired.

FIG. 9 shows a simplified design of the heat exchange device 300 shownin FIG. 8. The heat exchange device 400 has a chamber 410 with a line420, which passes through the chamber 410 and is provided with fins 422,for a heat exchange medium 421, as well as a wall 430 with fins 450. Thefins 450 in this case serve to increase the heat exchange betweenworking medium 413 in the chamber 410 and the environment surroundingthe heat exchange device 400. In an exemplary embodiment which is notshown, a further line for a heat exchange medium is arranged in the wall430, in a similar way to in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

The fins 450 are in each case interrupted, with the interruptionspreferably in each case being formed in the region of an inflow oroutflow opening 411, 412 for the working medium 413, in order to reducethe flow resistance to the working medium 413 in these regions, whichadvantageously results in a reduced pressure loss for the working mediumin the chamber 410. Otherwise, the heat exchange device 400 functions inthe same way as has been described with reference to FIG. 8.

1. A heat exchange device having a working medium and a heat exchangemedium, the working medium, with a view to producing a desired workingpoint, exchanging heat with the heat exchange medium via heat exchangesurfaces, characterized in that a chamber is formed, working mediumflowing into the chamber and the chamber having at least one linepassing through it and/or being delimited, in particular surrounded, byat least one line, which line has heat exchange medium flowing throughit.
 2. The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 1, characterized inthat the chamber has at least one line passing through it in thedirection of its greatest longitudinal extent.
 3. The heat exchangedevice as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least oneline has heat exchange fins.
 4. The heat exchange device as claimed inclaim 3, characterized in that the heat exchange fins are arranged onthe outer side of the line and project into the chamber from the line.5. The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in thatthe heat exchange fins are designed to be positioned perpendicularly, inparticular to protrude radially, with respect to the direction in whichthe at least one line runs.
 6. The heat exchange device as claimed inclaim 4, characterized in that the heat exchange fins are designed tomatch the direction in which the working medium flows into the chamber.7. The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in thatthe heat exchange fins are designed to match the direction in which theworking medium flows out of the working chamber.
 8. The heat exchangedevice as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least oneline is formed in the region of at least one inflow opening in thechamber.
 9. The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 8,characterized in that a plurality of inflow openings are provided, witha line running in the region of each inflow opening.
 10. The heatexchange device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that in eachcase one common line is assigned to a plurality of inflow openings. 11.The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in thateach inflow opening is assigned to a different line.
 12. The heatexchange device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the atleast one line is formed in the region of at least one outflow opening.13. The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 12, characterized inthat a plurality of outflow openings are provided, with a line runningin the region of each outflow opening.
 14. The heat exchange device asclaimed in claim 13, characterized in that in each case one common lineis assigned to a plurality of outflow openings.
 15. The heat exchangedevice as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that each outflowopening is assigned a different line.
 16. The heat exchange device asclaimed in claim 1, characterized in that each line is assigned at leastone inflow opening and at least one outflow opening, preferably at leastone and in particular precisely one inflow opening and precisely oneoutflow opening.
 17. The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that at least one line which surrounds the chamber isarranged in a wall of the chamber, the wall in particular being providedwith heat exchange fins.
 18. The heat exchange device as claimed inclaim 17, characterized in that heat exchange fins of the wall, togetherwith heat exchange fins of a line passing through the chamber, formmeans for guiding the flow of the working medium.
 19. The heat exchangedevice as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the working mediumflows through the region provided with heat exchange fins on the flowpath from inflow opening to outflow opening.
 20. The heat exchangedevice as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the chamber forms astorage tank for working medium.
 21. The heat exchange device as claimedin claim 20, characterized in that the chamber forms a pressurizedreservoir.
 22. The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the chamber is part of a functional component of avehicle.
 23. The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 22,characterized in that the chamber is an integral part of an enginecomponent, in particular of the exhaust system of an engine, of anexhaust gas recirculation device, of a brake device or of a compressor.24. The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 23, characterized inthat the chamber is formed in the immediate vicinity of the engine blockor forms part of the engine block.
 25. The heat exchange device asclaimed in claim 1, characterized in that the fin height is between 1 mmand approx. 40 mm, and the spacing between the fins is between 0.1 andapprox. 20 mm.
 26. A method for conditioning a working medium by meansof a heat exchange medium, characterized in that the working mediumflows into a chamber and the heat exchange medium flows through at leastone line which passes through the chamber.
 27. The method as claimed inclaim 26, characterized in that the conditioning of the working mediumin the chamber takes place at least partially through free convection.28. The method as claimed in claim 26, characterized in that the workingmedium, at least when it is flowing into or out of the chamber, flowsthrough a region provided with heat exchange fins.
 29. The method asclaimed in claim 28, characterized in that the heat exchange fins areoriented in the inflow and/or outflow direction of the working medium.30. The method as claimed in claim 28, characterized in that the heatexchange fins are oriented in the direction of the profile of aconvective flow in the chamber.
 31. The method as claimed in claim 26,characterized in that the working medium is stored in the chamber, withthe working medium being subjected to pressure in the chamber.
 32. Themethod as claimed in claim 26, characterized in that the working mediumis used for operation of an engine or of a brake device of a vehicle.33. (canceled)